Weft detecting shuttle



Jan. 3, 1950 J F, U s v I 2,493,114

WEFT DETECTING SHUTTLE Filed March ll, 1948 INVENTOR.

.F ELJX DANiELS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 3, 1950 DETECTING SHUTTLE Felix Daniels, Williamsport, Pa., assignor to Gelanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 1948, Serial No. 14,302

1 Claim.

This invention relates to shuttles, and relates more particularly to shuttles for use in automatic bobbinor shuttle-changing looms,

In automatic bobbinor shuttle-changing looms as commonly constructed, there is provided as an integral part thereof an electrical feeler which through suitable electrically controlled means operates either the bobbinor shuttle-changing mechanism. The body of the feeler is normally positioned at the right-hand side of the loom and is stationary. The feeler usually comprises two reciprocating plungers equipped with metal tips. When the lay of the loom is in its maximum forward position, the shuttle is in a position to allow the feeler plungers to be inserted through a slot provided for this purpose in the shuttle. At that point, the plungers are compressed against springs mounted thereon and the tips make contact either with the yarn on the filling bobbin held in the shuttle or with the nickle-plated steel ferrule on said bobbin. In the weaving process, the yarn is unwound from the bobbin in the shuttle so that eventually the nickle-plated steel ferrule is uncovered. When the feeler plungers make contact on the ferrule. an electric circuit is closed thus actuating the bobbin changing mechanism, or in the case of shuttle-changing looms, the mechanism which replaces the empty shuttle with a full shuttle. v

Heretofore, it was necessary to regulate the tension of the plungers by means 01' helical springs and it required minute adjustment in order to regulate the tension of said plunger-s so that damage by abrasion to the yarn when the tips of the plungers made contact therewith would be avoided. It is, accordingly, an important object of this invention to improve the shuttle so that danger of damage to the yarn on the bobbin in the shuttle is substantially eliminated.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention comprises the use of metallic feeler guards, which are positioned in the path of the plungers, the guards preventing the tips from coming into contact with the yarn and the guards themselves functioning to close the electric circuit to operate the bobbinor shuttle-changing mechanism of the loom.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of a shuttle showing a portion of a yarn holder carried therein, and partially in section to show the feeler guards of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the plungers operating the feeler guards of the present invention.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout both views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a shuttle 3 is shown carrying a wood filling bobbin 4, which is secured in the shuttle by means of a spring steel jaw 5 clamped around circular spring steel rings 6 mounted on the butt of the bobbin. The filling bobbin 4 is also provided with a nickel-plated steel ferrule or sleeve 1. The shuttle 3 is provided with a slot 8 to permit ieeler plungers 9 having brass tips In to pass therethrough.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided on the inside of the slot 8 two flat pieces or springs l I of any suitable metal, such as spring steel, rivets l2 holding the fiat pieces in position. Preferably, the rivets are countersunk both on the inside surface and on the outside surface of the shuttle. It is also preferable to so mount the flat pieces or springs ll so that they are flush with the nside of the shuttle. The free ends l2 of springs H are bent away from the inside of the shuttle as shown at [3.

By the use of the feeler guard springs H of the present invention, the tips ID of feeler plungers 9, when inserted in slot 8, make contact with the springs so that the latter instead of the tips touch the yarn. Since the springs are iiat and make smoother contact with the yarn, the yarn is not damaged by abrasion.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A shuttle for use in automatic bobbinor shuttle-changing looms wherein an electrical feeler, including a pair of reciprocating plungers,

. 3 operates the changing mechanismosaidnifiuztle UNITED STATES PATENTS having a. slotted opening therein per he passage of said plnngers therethrough, means g-g2? m Mar i fixed to said shuttle for holding a yarn package, 724313 mp 1903 and two flat metal springs attached to the inside 5 1 855699 afi 1932 of said shuttle and extending into the slotted 2430829 sepavich 1947 opening, the construction and arrangement being such that the springs are in the path of said FOREIGN PATENTS plungers so that the plungers contact the same and not the yarn package thus preventing dam- 10 ggg g: M 2:,

age to the yarn on said p 738,141 France Oct. 11 1932 FELIX DANELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent: 

